Actuating means adapted to utilize a gaseous fluid for its operation



April 15, 1958 J. H. FABREGAS EI'AL 2,831,083 ACTUATING MEANS ADAPTED TO UTILIZE A GASEOUS FLUID FOR ITS OPERATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1955 INVENTORS .TUSE HUG'ES FHBREGHS.

Bi l U151 CESHR C'UTU MHYHNS. W

ATTORNE Y.

April 15, 1958 Filed July 22, 1955 J. H. FABREGAS EIAL 2, ACTUATING MEANS ADAPTED T0 UTILIZE A GASEOUS FLUID FOR ITS OPERATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 as f,

Fig.1?-

62 'n o H- INVENTORS 705E HUGES msnasns.

.TULIU CESAR C'OTO MRYBNE,

United States Patent Jos Hugues Fabregas and Julio Cesar Coto Mayans, Havana, Cuba Application July 22, 1955, Serial No. 523,844

3 Claims. (Cl. 200-815) This invention relates to a system of action of compressed air for the purpose of expanding a flexible chamber to actuate a mechanism or electric device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for controlling the filling or replenishing of a receptacle or operating a switch or mechanism, by utilizing the principle of expanding a flexible chamber, the expansion being influenced by a change or difference in air pressure produced in a device contained within the receptacle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system which includes means for expanding a flexible chamber to operate mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of an electric switch.

A further object of the present invention resides in the use, for regulating or controlling purposes, of the different pressures of a liquid in a tank or other container, which pressures are transmitted by air contained within a receptacle open at the bottom, situated within the tank and which is connected at its upper portion or top with a pipe which is in turn connected to a flexible chamber adapted to expand when receiving the compressed air from said receptacle, the chamber expanding and receding in proportion with the pressure in the interior thereof.

Yet another object of the present invention is to utilize the expanding and receding pressure in a flexible chamber, the movement of the wall or walls thereof being availed of to set a mechanism in motion, such as for example, opening and closing of a switch of an electrical circuit containing a motor or engine operating a pump, and/or controlling the opening and closing of a valve which feeds water to a feeding tank from whichthe water is drawn by a hydraulic pump, and transfers it to another tank- Various further and more specific objects, purposes, features and advantages will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and illustrate merely by way of examples certain embodiments of the device of the invention.

The invention consists in such novel features, arrangements and combinations of parts as may be shown and described in connection with the apparatus herein disclosed by way of example only and as illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the system.

In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but such names are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit. Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an electric switch with its box uncovered, which switch is operated or actioned in accordancewith the system of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an isometric projection of the electric switch shown in Fig. 1, with the switch boxs three sides removed;

Fig. 3 is a side view of part of the mechanism of the electric switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2, showing with dotted lines the position where some of the parts are situated when the flexible chamber which sets them in movement is expanded;

Figs. 4 and 5 show an isometric projection and a side view, respectively, of a flexible chamber wherein only one of its walls is flexible, said chamber being surrounded by a frame;

Figs. 6 and 9 are side views of a chamber similar to that seen in Figs. 4 and 5, but with two sides or faces, front and back, being flexible, and surrounded by a rigid frame; and showing how they are expanded when the flexible chamber receives air under pressure;

Figs. 7 and 10 show an isometric projection and a side view, respectively, of the parts or elements which contain the air that is compressed when the level of the water in the tank in which the inverted or open-bottomed receptacle is situated, rises; and showing with dotted lines how a wall of each flexible chamber is expanded; Fig. 7 showing a second expanded or inflated wall in full lines;

Fig. 8 is a view in isometric projection, of a chamber which is all flexible, in order to utilize to a maximum the movement of its walls when said chamber is expanded, as indicated by the dotted lines;

Figs. 11 and 13 represent an isometric and side view, respectively, of a by-pass valve actuated by the system, in accordance with this invention; and i Fig. 12 is a partial elevational view of the parts whic act upon the valve shown in Figs. 11 and 13, indicating with dotted lines how the movable parts behave when the compressed air makes the flexible chamber expand- As an illustration, the installation of the system embodying the invention shall be explained as applied in a house or industry wherein the water from a lower cistern, tank or receptacle is transferred to an upper tank by means of a hydraulic pump operated by an electric motor which has in its circuit an interrupting switch automatically moved in accordance with the different levels of the water in the tanks; and also wherein in accordance with the water levels in the feeding cistern or lower tank, a by-pass valve of the water feeding pipe is automatically opened or closed.

The flexible chamber is shown in various forms in the drawings. For example, Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a flexible chamber 34 surrounded by a frame 34" and wherein only one of its walls 34" is flexible. Fig. 6 discloses a flexible chamber similar to that seen in Figs. 4 and 5, but having two sides or faces 4a and 4b, front and rear, respectively, connected to the frame 411. The sides or walls 4a and 4b are shown as expanded, Fig. 9 showing with dotted lines the same condition of these walls or sides. Fig. 8 illustrates a chamber 64 which is all flexible, thus utilizing the maximum expansion of the chamber when inflated; the expansion being indicated by dotted lines. In Fig. 7 the flexible chamber has the two expansible sides or walls 40! and 4e held in the frame 4c; and in Fig. 10 the flexible chamber has the expansible wall 4g fixed to the frame 4 In general, in accordance with the invention, the use of the different levels of the water for expanding a flexible chamber and set a mechanism to work, is effected by means of an inverted receptacle or a receptacle open at its bottom, whose upper portion or extremity is connected to a pipe the upper end of which is connected These three elements to a closed flexible chamber. taken together (receptacle, pipe and flexible chamber) will be henceforth called air unit or simply unit.

As shown in the drawings (Figs. 4, 9 and 10), the flexible chamber comprises a surrounding frame, and Walls or front and rear faces, one or two of which could be made of flexible material, and the pipe which pronudes from the open-bottomed receptacle, is connected to the rear or back wall of the flexible chamber. As an example, in Fig. 10, the flexible chamber is indicated by the numeral 4', the connecting pipe by the numeral 3, and the inverted or open-bottomed receptacle by the numeral 2, which taken together form the whole air unit.

The functioning of an air unit is as follows: Let us suppose that the inverted or open-bottomed receptacle 2 in Fig. 7 or 10, is lodged within a tank (not shown), on afixed base, and that the pipe 3 extends from the flexible chamber 4 or 4 which is found in any convenient exterior place. Logically, there is natural air in the interior of the unit, at atomspheric pressure. If the tank begins to be filled up with water, as soon as thelevel reaches receptacle 2, and continues rising including through the receptacle 2 whose bottom is open, the air within the unit will be having less free space, and as a result, its interior pressure will be higher and increasing While the level of the water rises, until it becomes suflicient to inflate the chamber 4 or 4, producing the expansion of its flexible wall or walls. That expansion of the walls is used to set the mechanism to work.

Figs. 1, 2, and 3, illustrate the system of three of such air units conveniently set to start off an interrupting switch which automatically opens and closes the electric circuit of an engine which sets off a hydraulic pump, both of which are not shown, it not being deemed necessary for an explanation of the invention. This mechanism shall hereafter be described and for this purpose let it be assumed that there exists a cistern, tank or low receptacle which will be called a supply tank, and a high tank or container which will be called a reeeiving tank, to which must be transferred the water from the supply tank by means of the hydraulic pump.

Lodged within the supply tank, there is an inverted receptacle 2' of an air unit whose connecting pipe 3 extends from said supply tank and ends in the flexible chamber 4 which is lodged Within the box or cabinet 59 of an electrical interrupting switch, in contact with the front side of said box. Receptacle 2 rests fixedly upon a base 1 fixed to the supply tank; and box 59 of the interrupting switch is located in any convenient place.

Similarly, within the receiving tank, and in its lower portion, there is disposed an inverted receptacle 32 of another air unit, fixed upon base 31, whose connecting pipe 33 extends to and is connected to the flexible chamber 34 which is also set within the box or cabinet 59, against its back wall. Within this receiving tank, and in its upper portion, there is set fixedly upon one base 51, the inverted receptacle 52 of another air unit, whose connecting pipe 53 extends to and is connected to the flexible chamber 54 placed also within box 59, against its top or upper side. Receptacle 32 is positioned on a lower level than receptacle 52, within the receiving tank. I

All the mechanism of the interrupting switch is arranged and set within box 59, and consists of an electric contact 20 fixed upon an insulating piece 21 held fixedly against the back wall of the box, said contact 20 having its terminal 23 (Fig. 1) for the connection of the corresponding electric conductor; a movable contact 19 attached to the upper end of an insulating arm 15 which rises pivotally between two angular supporting cars 17 by means of axle or pivot 16 (Fig. 1), which supporting ears are set fixedly upon the bottom of box 59; the arm 15 having a side pin 45, and the movable contact 19 having a terminal 22 to connect the corresponding electric conductor.

, Positioned before the flexible chamber 4', there is a rigid plate 5 articulated by its top edge with the front side of the box 59, as indicated at 6, above said flexible chamber, having its lower extreme portion slightly deviated in the front; another rigid plate 35 is located in front of the flexible chamber 34, articulated at its lower end, with the back Wall of the box 59, as shown at 36, this plate 35 remaining with its top portion surpassing over said flexible chamber 34. A holding piece 41 has a lower end bent downwardly in a right angle to articulate itself to the back wall of case 59, as indicated at 42, above chamber 34. The central portion of said holding piece 41 extends inwardly, and its other end is bent upwardly; this piece 41 having a lower claw 44 extending downwards, for a purpose to be explained later. A laminar lever 55 is articulated at its center or intermediate point, against the upper side of the box 59, as indicated in 56, and one of its lever arms is straight extending itself in front of the flexible chamber 54, against which it establishes contact by the action of a helical spring 57 about a screw 58 set against that top of the box, while the other arm of said lever 55 is bent twice at right angle, in order to be separated from the aforementioned upper side of box 59. This arm holds a rod 47 which goes through a perforation of said arm, and extends downwards going through a perforation in holding piece 41, this rod having both ends bent in order to prevent its withdrawal from said *erforations.

The insulating arm 35 has a stem 12 connected in its lower portion, which stem could revolve about the axle or pivot 11 emerging from said arm. Stem 12 extends forward easily going through an opening 13 in the lower end of plate 5, and through another similar opening in the front side of box 59. There is disposed around this stem 12 a spring 7 which bears against the plate 5 and against a pin 8 which goes through the stem 12. Besides, this stem 12 has around its portion protruding from plate 5, another helical spring 9 which bears with its ends against said plate and against a pin 10 of the free end of said stem, both springs '7 and 9 thus opposing each other. The insulating arm is pierced by a small and thin stem 40 (Figs. 1 and 3), which goes freely through a perforation extending from the front to the back end of said arm 15, said stem 40 being provided with stops at its ends which prevent its withdrawal from the said perforation through which it passes, and has spirally wound around it a spring 39 extending between its end facing plate 35 and the corresponding side of the arm 15. Connected by pivot to the lower end of the insulating arm 15, is a holding arm 24 whose free end in the shape of a ciaw, engages an opening of the bottom of the box 59, thus holding back the arm 15 from advancing towards the fixed contact 20. Arm 24 goes through a small opening in a member 27 articulated at the bottom of box 59, which member located in front of plate 5, is moved by the latter when it moves forward as chamber 4 expands, and acts so that it raises the arm 24 which will remain free with its extreme claw out of small opening 5% in the bottom of the box 59 with which it engages.

A rod 29 extends within the box 59 from its front side toward the back, moving freely through perforations 60 (Fig. 2), made at the lower ends of the facing plates 5 and 35, said rod having a spring 30 wound about it, which presses against said plates.

A screw 38 passes through the rear wall 59a of the box 59, and passes freely through a perforation .in the lower end of the plate 35, having an encompassing spiral spring 37 which bears against said plate and against ahead at the lower end of said screw.

A lever 48 is pivoted against the inside face of one side of box 59 with its pivot or intermediate revolving pin 49, which lever 4-8 has its ends bent inwardly, its lower end bearing against the plate 5, while its upper end bears against the holding piece 41 which it maintains upwards while said lever 48 meets it; to which position it is urged by the effect of a spring 50 which has an end attached to the same side of the box 59.

contacts 23 and 22; that the inverted receptacle 2' is set at the bottom of a supply tank, and that the inverted receptacles 32 and 52 are positioned toward the bottom and top, respectively, of a receiving tank" situated on a high place. Wheneverthe supply tank begins to be filled with water, and while its lever rises, reaching and surpassing the inverted receptacle 2, an increasing pressure will be exerted upon the air lodged Within the corresponding air unit formed by receptacle 2, pipe 3 and flexible chamber 4, and that air submitted at a rising pressure because the space where it lodges becomes smaller while the level of the water rises, reaches suflicient pressure to make the flexible side of the chamber 4' expand or inflate, and the plate 5 with which said chamber is in contact, will be pushed forward rotating upon its articulation 6, and in this advance of the plate 5, springs 7'and 30 will begin to be compressed, while the lower end of the lever 48 is pushed backward compelling said lever to turn against the action of the spring 50, thus separating the upper end of the lever 48 out of contact with the retainer piece 41, which will be maintained upwardly by the pressure exerted by the plate 35 upon its bent and articulated end. While plate 5 advances, it will engage member 27, compelling it to rise While turning upon its axis, which makes holding arm 24 rise, with its extreme claw still holding within the bottom opening 59b of case 59, detaining arm from going forward; and when the holding arm 24 is freed from 59b the insulating arm 15 moves forward rapidly by the effect of spring 7, and the movable contact 19 engages the fixed contact 20. The electrical circuit of the motor being shut off, engagement of contacts 19 and 20 energizes the motor and thus sets in motion the hydraulic pump causing the water to flow upward from the supply tank to the receiving tank. When the level of the water in the receiving tank begins to rise and reaches the inverted receptacle 32 the air contained within the air unit formed by receptacle 32, pipe 33 and flexible chamber 34, begins to be confined to a smaller space while the level of water rises, and its pressure increases until it causes the flexible chamber 34 to expand or inflate, which chamber 34 will push plate 35 about its axis 36 making it advance against the action of springs and 37. When plate goes forward, the retaining piece 41 falls by its own weight, rotating upon its axis 42, and its claw 44.will remain located immediately behind lateral pin 45 of insulating arm 15, due to which the latter could not move backward, thus separating the electric contacts 19 and 20. In its advance, plate 35 pushes small rod against the action of spring 39, exerting a pressure against the insulating arm 15 which would be driven backward if it was not held back by claw 44 located behind the pin 45, as aforesaid. While the water level in the receiving tank continues rising, it reaches the inverted receptacle 52, and the air contaned in the air unit formed by receptacle 52, pipe 53 and flexible chamber 54, continues also acquiring ahigher pressure until it causes chamber 54 to expand. This expansion will push the coresponding arm of lever 55 against the action of spring 57, and as the other arm of lever 55 rises, it draws with it rod 47, and rod 47 in turn raises the retaining piece 41, thereby raising the claw 44 which leaves free the pin 45, and the insulating arm 15 snaps backwards by the action of spring 39 which was compressed by plate 35; this being brought about because the accumulated strength on spring 39 is greater than the strength exerted by opposed spring 7. In this position of insulating arm 15, the electric contacts 19 and 20 remain separated, and therefore, the circuit of the motor being open, the hydraulic pump is incapacitated, and no more water will reach the receiving tank from the supply tank. It is to be borne in mind that the member 27 remains lifted by it contact with plate 5 which remains in an advanced position by the pushing there-' against of flexible chamber 4 which stays expanded. Thus, the claw of the retaining arm 24 cannot return into the opening 59b at the bottom of the box 59.

When the water in the receiving tank is being used, and its level goes down, the air pressure which maintains expanded flexible chamber 54, also decreases until the pressure of spring 57 previously compressed, compels the corresponding arm of the lever plate 55 to rise when chamber 54 loses its expansion, lowering the other arm of plate 55, which will cease pulling on rod 47, and rod 47 from retaining piece 41, which piece 41 will again drop by its own weight, leaving its claw 44 positioned in front of pin of insulating arm 15. By the water level continuing its descent in the receiving tank, the moment arrives when the pressure of the air which causes flexible chamber 54 to expand, also diminishes, which occurs when the water level uncovers the receptacle 32, and the air pressure diminishes to such a point that the chamber 34 loses expansion, thus causing plate 35 to retract to its initial position by the action of springs 37 and 30 and causing retaining piece 41 to rise. When chamber 34 began to lose expansion, plate 35 continued receding slowly, and the action of spring 7 returned to pushing arm 15 until the latter reached fixed contact 20, but pin 45 of arm 15 was bearing against claw 44 because of retaining piece 41 being in a low position, thus preventing engagement of contacts 19 and 20; but on maintaining retaining piece 41 upward by plate 35 when this arrives to its maximum recession or retrocession, as it happens when the level of the water reaches the bottom of the receiving tank, the insulating arm 15 remains unhindered. By the action of spring 7, arm 15 advances until the electric contacts 19 and 20 are again engaged, and the hydraulic pump, again begins to operate, and the water fills up the receiving tank. This cycle is repeated every time the receiving tank is empty,

and while sufiicient water remains in the supply tank,

so that the air within the air unit formed by inverted receptacle 2, pipe 3 and flexible chamber 4, maintains chamber 4' expanded, and plate 5 remains displaced compressing spring 7 and lifting piece 27 so that the claw of detaining arm 24 does not remain in the opening in the bottom 59b of box 59.

It may happen, however, that there may be sufficient water in the supply tank to compress spring 7, and that the latter may have sutficient strength to move arm 15 closing the circuit of the electric motor which operates the hydraulic pump; but that the liquid in said supply tank would not be sufficient to fill the receiving tank. Whenever this happens, the pump transfers almost all the water of the supply tank to the receiving tank, and the level of the water in the supply tank recedes until the air pressure in the corresponding air unit lowers, and the flexible chamber 4' loses expansion. Spring 30 compels plate 5 to recede and return to its initial position, in which position plate 5 compresses spring 9 which, by exerting pressure upon pin 10, draws on stem 12 which acts on the insulating arm 15, tending to separate the contacts 19 and 20, which however, is not accomplished because claw 44 of retaining piece 41, located behind pin 45, bears against the latter and prevents arm 15 from receding. (To the strength of spring 9 drawing from stem 12, is to be added that strength exercised by spring 30 in the same direction against plate 5.) When chamber 4' is completely unexpanded, lever 48 is forced by spring 50 to the position in which its upper end bears against and raises retaining piece 41, thus raising claw 44 which will leave free pin 45, and insulating arm 15 goes backward by the action of spring 9, and the claw or the retaining arm 24 engages in the opening in bottom 59b of box 59, since upon plate 5 receding, piece 27 returned to its initial position. The two contacts 19 and 20 re- 7 main separated, and the circuit of the pump motor being open, the pump will stop functioning. In these conditions, everything remains as at the beginning, the pump not being able to function until the level of the water in the supply tank reaches over the inverted receptacle 2', and the flexible chamber 4' expands again.

The supply tank normally receives water through a pipe, to which pipe is connected a valve 70, pipe 71 being the water inlet for said valve, and pipe 72, the water outlet, to feed the supply tank, as seen in Figs. 11 and 13. Valve 70 is open or closed by means of an other air unit, formed by the inverted receptacle 62 attached to base 61 within the supply tank, connecting pipe 63 and flexible chamber 64. Above valve 70 from where emerges the stem 68 of the valve locking member, there is screwed a fitting 74 to which a small plate 73 is fixed. Four diverging rods 75, 76, 77 and 78 project from plate 73, which support two parallel bases 79 and 80 separated by the members 81, S2, 83 and 84. Upper base 80 has a central perforation through which passes pipe 63 that communicates inverted receptacle 62 with chamber 64, which chamber is set between the two bases '79 and 8%. There is also positioned a small plate 65 from whose interior face extends a tube 66 that passes through central perforation of the bottom of base 79, and upon that tube 66 which has an inside thread, is threaded the upper end of stem 68, the latter having been fixed by bolt 67 that acts as a counterbolt. The small plate 65 bears against flexible chamber 64 by the action of a spring 69 entwined around tube 66 which bears against the interior face of said small plate 65, and the upper face of base 79. When the level of the water in the supply tank rises, upon reaching the inverted receptacle 62, the air pressure within the corresponding air unit, rises progressively until it reaches such a pressure that the flexible chamber 64 expands pushing the plate 65 against the action of spring 69, lowering stem 68, which action will close valve '70. In order that this may occur, the air pressure within chamber 64 must overcome the pressure of the water which runs through said valve 70, which happens whenever the supply tank is full. When the level of the water recedes in the supply tank, and the air pressure decreases as a consequence in chamber 64, chamber 64 will lose its expansion, and spring 69 compels plate 65 to rise, causing stem 68 to rise. Valve 70 will thus open, through which the water will flow to the supply tank until the level in same will cause the air pressure to rise again and expand flexible chamber 64, thus repeating the cycle.

While the invention has been described as an example, as a system to transfer water from a cistern or supply tank to a receiving tank, it is evident that the invention is applicable to other systems and may be employed or adapted for other uses.

We claim:

'1. Actuating means adapted to utilize a gaseous fluid for its operation, comprising a first expandable chamber, a first receptacle, means for communicating pressure between said first receptacle and first chamber to expand and recede the latter in response to pressures within said receptacle, a first movable member operatively connected to said first chamber for movement upon expansion of the latter from a rest position to an operative position, an electrical contact on said first movable member, a cooperating electrical contact fixed in position to be engaged by said first movable member upon movement of the latter to its operative position for closing an electrical circuit, a second expandable chamber, a second receptacle, second means for communicating pressure from said second receptacle to said second chamber to expand and recede the latter in response to pressures within said second receptacle, a second movable member operatively connected to said second chamber for movement upon expansion of the latter from a normal position to a position retaining said first movable member in its operative position, whereby said first movable member is held in its operative position in response to pressures in said second receptacle without regard to pressures in said first receptacle, a third expandable chamber, a third receptacle, means for communicating pressure from said third receptacle to said third chamber to expand and recede the latter in response to pressures produced in said third receptacle, a third movable member operatively connected to said third chamber to be moved by the latter in one direction upon expansion of said third chamber, said third movable member being operatively connected to said second movable member to move the latter from its retaining position to its normal position upon movement of said third movable member in said one direction, whereby said second movable member serves to release said first movable member from its operative position responsive to pressures in said third receptacle.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said first movable member is articulated for swinging movement between its normal and operative positions, and said third movable member is resiliently biased in the direction opposite to said mentioned direction.

3. The combination according to claim 1, said second movable member being articulated to fall by gravity upon movement from its normal to its operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,063,613 McCarthy Dec. 8, 1936 2,080,169 Dillman "May 11, 1937 2,466,522 Weber Apr. 5, 1949 2,555,990 Newton June 5, 1951 2,586,972 McKenzie Feb. 26, 1952 2,660,635 Wood Nov. 24, 1953 2,732,449 Gilman et al. Ian. 24, 1956 

